22 June 2018

Britain bag three medals at Rowing World Cup

Great Britain’s para-rowing crews pulled off a clean sweep at the World Cup in Linz, with medals in all three finals they competed in.

Oliver Stanhope and Daniel Brown claimed Britain’s first gold at the event in the PR3 men’s pair, shortly after Laurence Whiteley surged to silver in the PR2 single sculls.

Andy Houghton – competing at just his second World Cup regatta since 2013 – continued his good form with a battling bronze in the PR1 singles.

World Champion Stanhope and Brown, a Paralympic medallist at Rio 2016, staged a thrilling overtake in the final 500 metres to triumph by a margin of exactly two seconds.

In his race fellow Rio gold medallist Whiteley stayed in contact with Corne De Koning at 500 metres but couldn’t quite catch the Dutch leader, holding on comfortably for silver.

Pushing off in the day’s third and last final, Houghton fought back from fourth bag bronze in PR1 and continues to excel in his second season back after a four-year break from international para-rowing.

Britain go again in tomorrow’s A and B finals, with more chances of medals to match the haul of six at the first edition of the World Cup in Belgrade earlier this month.

British Rowing Director of Performance Brendan Purcell said: “I’m delighted to see our Para-rowing crews all on the podium today. It’s a testament to their hard work and commitment, and I look forward to seeing their progression ahead of their next test at September’s World Championships.

“I expect some very competitive racing in Sunday’s finals, where hopefully we’ll see some strong performances and some more British crews come away with medals.”

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